Josephine Mirabito

Josephine ("Jo") Mirabito, 98, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at the NYS Veterans Home, Oxford, NY.

Josephine was born June 1918, in Norwich NY, to Vincenzo ("Jim") LoPiccolo and Angelina (Paino) LoPiccolo. She graduated from Norwich High School in 1936 with a scholarship to attend Rider College in New Jersey. But fate stepped in. Her parents lost their jobs, and she remained at home to support her family as secretary to Carl Fribley, CEO, at the Norwich Pontiac Dealership. With her first paycheck she purchased a 1937 GE electric refrigerator for her parents that is still purring like new today.

On September 9, 1940, she married Angelo James Mirabito, at St. Bartholomew’s Church, in Norwich, NY, and enjoyed 65 wonderful years together. Angelo passed away on May 13, 2005. WWII intervened and Ang was shipped off to Europe until the war ended. To help the war effort, Josephine sought employment at The Sintilla Factory in Sidney, NY, where she remained throughout the war. Following WWII, she raised two children and then returned to the workforce as Executive Secretary to Cyrus Higley, President of The National Bank of Norwich (“The Upper Bank”) until 1957.

In 1957, her family built and operated Chenango Asphalt Products, Inc., on East River Road, Norwich, NY, where she was the bookkeeper and scalemaster until the company was sold in 1991. Jo was a stickler for accuracy and kept flawless books, even searching to find one penny if need be. She was known to give the CPA’s a lesson or two. Jo is most fondly remembered by those involved in that industry.

Josephine was a lifelong member of St. Bartholomew’s Church, the Rosary Society, and the Ave Maria Guild. She absolutely loved cooking and baking. Her yummy cookie recipes always show up at family gatherings. She was an avid bowler, even picking-off the double pinochle! In addition to being a terrific homemaker and being gainfully employed, she took part in the PTA, garden club, bridge club, Cub Scouts, hospital volunteers, bloodmobile and was an accomplished knitter and crocheter. She loved to travel and especially loved visiting Italy, the home of her parents and grandparents. She passionately drove her car, even to Florida and back numerous times, and would never have stopped driving if she’d had her way. Above all, Josephine cherished her family, parents, husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brother, sister, nieces and nephews. All were well aware when Aunt Jo was around. It was a life well lived. She will be missed.

Josephine is survived by her daughter Angela Simic and her husband, Berto, her son Michael and his wife, Josephine, her grandchildren Sarah Mirabito, David Mirabito and his wife Liz, Maria Mirabito, Angelo Mirabito, Michael Cooper, Daniela Simic Roth, Andrej Simic and his wife, Rachel, many nieces and nephews from the Mirabito, LoPiccolo, and Caprio families, and her great-grandchildren Madison, Dominic, and Roman. She was predeceased by her husband Angelo, her parents, her brother, Dominic LoPiccolo and his wife Helen, her sister Mary Caprio and her husband Tony, Daniela’s husband Nick Roth, and her brothers-in-law, Tom Mirabito, Tony Mirabito, and Rosario Mirabito.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 13, 2016, at St. Bartholomew’s Church, where the Rev. Father Ralph Bove, pastor, will officiate. Burial will take place at St. Paul’s Cemetery immediately following. There will be no calling hours.

Contributions in Josephine’s memory may be made to the St. Bartholomew’s Capital Campaign fund, 30 Pleasant Street, Norwich, NY 13815.